Fire-escape



(No Model.)

W H. BARNES.

FIRE ESCAPE No. 288,155. Patented Nov. 6, 1883.

Witne .sses Inventor:

n. Firms. Pholo-Mhographar. Walhinghm. 0.0,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BARNES, OF INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPEGIFIGATION fOrming part of Letters Patent No. 288,155, dated November 6, 1883.

Application filed March 20, 1883. (No model.)

To, all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM H. Bnnuns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Independence. in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful FireEseape, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes in which a ladder is used attached directly to a building or in conjunction with a balcony; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a means of escape always ready and accessible; second, to save expense and atoggled-up appearance by making the balconyiront and ladder one and the same; third. to provide a way by which firemen or persons outside upon the ground may mount to the upper floors to rescue small children, invalids, or sleeping persons, presupposing the stairs proper are on fire. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of a housefront, showing the fire-escape in its difterent positions. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a balcony, showing the hooks h and catches K, by which the-ladder L is held in position, first as a fire-escape, and second as a balcony-front; Fig. 3 is a detailed and enlarged view of the position and appearance of the safety-chain O and of the staples S.

Similarletters refer to similar parts through out the several. views.

In the upper part of Fig. l the ladder L is seen in a state of rest, as a balcony-front (or otherwise.) R-is afixed rail, for safety. K K are catches, in which the ladder L is resting. In center of Fig. l is seen ladder descending for use as an escape, held by the short strong chain C. This chain is permanently fastened to an upright of balcony at one end and to the top rung of ladder at the other end, to prevent any possibility of the ladder falling while in transit, or of being taken away for any purin firm position for descent, the hooks h having been placed in the staples S, making all steady. The building or balcony is provided with staples S, to receive said hooks h, with which the ladders are provided at their upper ends. These said staples S are made long enough to also receive the lower end of the ladder from above, as shown in Fig. 2.

The duplicate staplesS S, atleftin drawings, are, in connection with a loose ladder, provided with hooks h, a part of this invention,

| pose. In lower part of Fig. 1 is seen ladder 5 said loose ladder being used to allow rescuers to ascend from the street below, and also to be used between any twobalconies, if needed.

I am aware that prior to my invention fire escapes have been made with ladders or steps operating in conjunction with a balcony. I therefore do not claim such a combination broadly; but

What I do claim as my'inventiou, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a balcony fire-cs cape, of an escape-ladder, and the balconyfront provided with means to support the ladder when in and out of use, substantially as set forth.

2. In balcony fireescapes, the staples S upon the balcony-front, and hooks h, combined with the above-described ladder or with any loose ladder for same purpose, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a balcony-front provided with catches K K, and a fire-escape ladder, substantially as shown.

4. The combination, in balcony fire-escapes, of the safety-chain O with the uprights of the balcony and the ladder-rungs, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM H. BARNES.

Witnesses CHAS. Yon, P. A. RAY. 

